Organizational and management aspects of cloud computing application in scientific research

Abstract

This chapter is focused on the business model of scientific research, theoretically analysing managerial, organizational, and financial, rather than technical aspects of this concept. Theoretic explanation is based on an organizational networking platform. In practice, this platform is presented by Seven Bridges Genomics software solution, and the new opportunities for the organizational network broker are illustrated both in theory and practice. The impact that cloud computing has upon organizational performances is theoretically explained by costs of the ICT infrastructure, as well as of transactional and opportunity costs of operations. Through cloud computing, approach opportunity costs are reduced and efficiency is increased. The business model is presented in the framework of Osterwalder and Pigneur. By means of theoretical analysis and practical example, the authors demonstrate the development of a business model related to scientific research in bioinformatics. Cloud computing enables organizational separation of two distinct parts of the scientific research business model: core research and IT support. From the perspective of efficiency, network achieves a higher level of capital utilisation, better resistance to business risks, lower transaction costs, and in general, better efficiency, while the core research part has the opportunity to focus its structure on effectiveness and creativity.